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Abstract:

A roof rack assembly includes a first roof rail and a second roof rail
spaced a first distance from one another on the vehicle roof. The first
roof rail has a first slot extending partially along the length of the
first roof rail. A first bow member is connected at a first pivot member
to the first roof rail at the first slot. A first linkage member has a
first portion connected at a second pivot member to the first bow member
and a second portion connected at a third pivot member to the first roof
rail. The first linkage member pulls the first pivot member toward the
third pivot member so the first bow member translates in the first slot
as the first bow member is pivoted away from the first rail.

Claims:

1. A roof rack assembly for a vehicle roof comprising: a first roof rail
and a second roof rail spaced a first distance from one another on the
vehicle roof; wherein the first roof rail has a first slot extending
partially along a length of the first roof rail; a first bow member
connected at a first pivot member to the first roof rail at the first
slot; a first linkage member with a first portion connected at a second
pivot member to the first bow member and a second portion connected at a
third pivot member to the first roof rail; wherein the first linkage
member pulls the first pivot member toward the third pivot member so the
first bow member translates in the first slot as the first bow member is
pivoted away from the first rail from a stowed position substantially
parallel with the first roof rail to a deployed position in which the
first bow member spans the first distance between the first and second
roof rails.

2. The roof rack assembly of claim 1, further comprising an actuator
operable to at least partially pivot the first bow member toward the
deployed position.

3. The roof rack assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator is a spring
positioned between the first roof rail and the first bow member and
biasing the first pivot member toward the second pivot member.

4. The roof rack assembly of claim 2, wherein the actuator is an
electrically-powered solenoid.

5. The roof rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the first roof rail forms a
cavity extending at least partially along the length of the first roof
rail; and wherein the first bow member is at least partially nested
within the cavity when in the stowed position.

6. The roof rack assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a second bow
member pivotably connected to one of the first roof rail and the second
roof rail and pivotable from a stowed position substantially parallel
with the one of the first roof rail and the second roof rail to a
deployed position in which the second bow member spans the first distance
between the first and the second roof rails; and wherein a second
distance between the first bow member and the second bow member when
deployed is less than the first distance between the first and second
roof rails due to the translation of the first bow member.

7. The roof rack assembly of claim 6, wherein the second bow member is
pivotably connected to the first roof rail and pivots outward from the
first roof rail to the deployed position in an opposite direction than
the first bow member.

8. The roof rack assembly of claim 6, wherein one of the first and the
second bow members nests within the other of the first and the second bow
members when both are in the stowed positions.

9. The roof rack assembly of claim 6, wherein the first roof rail has a
second slot; wherein the second bow member is pivotably connected at a
fourth pivot member to the first roof rail at the second slot; a second
linkage member with one portion connected at a fifth pivot member to the
first roof rail and another portion connected at a sixth pivot member to
the first bow member; wherein the second linkage pulls the fourth pivot
member toward the fifth pivot member so the second bow member translates
in the second slot as the second bow member is pivoted away from the
first roof rail from a stowed position substantially parallel with the
second roof rail to a deployed position in which the second bow member
spans the first distance between the first and second roof rails.

10. The roof rack assembly of claim 9, wherein the first bow member and
the second bow member translate toward one another when moving from the
respective stowed positions to the respective deployed positions.

11. The roof rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the first linkage member
is aligned substantially parallel with the first slot when the first bow
member is in the stowed position and is substantially perpendicular with
the first slot when the first bow member is in the deployed position so
that the first bow member translates substantially twice a distance
between the second and third pivot members.

12. A roof rack assembly comprising: a first roof rail and a second roof
rail spaced a first distance from one another; a first bow member
pivotally connected by a first pivot pin to the first roof rail; wherein
the first roof rail has a slot in which the first pivot pin translates
along the first roof rail as the first bow member is pivoted with respect
to the first roof rail; a linkage member with a first portion connected
at a second pivot pin fixed to the first bow member and a second portion
connected at a third pivot pin fixed to the first roof rail; wherein a
first end of the first bow member pivots away from the first rail as the
first bow member translates along the first roof rail via the first pivot
pin translating in the slot so the first bow member extends from a stowed
position substantially parallel with the first roof rail to a deployed
position in which the first bow member spans the first distance between
the first and second roof rails; a second bow member pivotably connected
at a first portion to one of the first and the second roof rails to pivot
from a stowed position substantially parallel with the one of the first
and the second roof rails to a deployed position in which the second bow
member spans the first distance between the first and the second roof
rails; and wherein a second distance between the first and the second bow
members when deployed is less than the first distance between the first
and second roof rails due to the translation of the first bow member.

13. The roof rack assembly of claim 12, further comprising an actuator
operable to at least partially pivot the first bow member toward the
deployed position.

14. The roof rack assembly of claim 13, wherein the actuator is a spring
positioned between the first roof rail and the first bow member and
biasing the first pivot member toward the second pivot member.

15. The roof rack assembly of claim 13, wherein the actuator is an
electrically-powered solenoid.

16. The roof rack assembly of claim 12, wherein the first roof rail forms
a cavity extending at least partially along a length of the first roof
rail; and wherein the first bow member is at least partially nested
within the cavity when in the stowed position.

Description:

[0002] Roof rack assemblies are often secured to vehicle roofs for
supporting cargo above the roof. Roof rack assemblies often have
longitudinally-arranged roof rails. Transverse roof rack bows, sometimes
referred to as cross members, may be used to span the distance between
the roof rails. Roof rack bows can contribute to aerodynamic drag and
wind noise, so some designs allow the bows to be removed from the roof
when not in use, or to be stowed in the roof rails. On some vehicles, the
transverse distance between the roof rails is greater than a desired
fore-aft spacing between the roof rack bows for supporting cargo. Some
designs configure the stowed length of the roof rack bows to accommodate
the desired fore-aft spacing and allow the roof rack bows to telescope in
length to extend between the roof rails when deployed. Telescoping roof
rack bows can be difficult for an operator to manually extend so that
they reach across the roof between the roof rails.

SUMMARY

[0003] A roof rack assembly for a vehicle roof is provided with bow
members that translate as they pivot to satisfy both a lateral span
between roof rails as well as fore-aft spacing requirements. The roof
rack assembly includes a first roof rail and a second roof rail spaced a
first distance from one another on the vehicle roof. The first roof rail
has a first slot extending partially along the length of the first roof
rail. A first bow member is connected at a first pivot member to the
first roof rail at the first slot. A first linkage member has a first
portion connected at a second pivot member to the first bow member and a
second portion connected at a third pivot member to the first roof rail.
The first linkage member pulls the first pivot member toward the third
pivot member so the first bow member translates in the first slot as the
first bow member is pivoted away from the first rail from a stowed
position substantially parallel with the first roof rail to a deployed
position in which the first bow member spans the first distance between
the first and second roof rails.

[0004] An actuator may be used to at least partially pivot the first bow
member toward the deployed position. For example, the actuator may be a
spring or an electronic solenoid.

[0005] The first roof rail may form a cavity extending at least partially
along the length of the first roof rail so that the first bow member can
be at least partially nested within the cavity when in the stowed
position.

[0006] The above features and advantages and other features and advantages
of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed
description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken
in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic fragmentary illustration in plan view of a
vehicle roof with a first embodiment of a roof rack assembly having bow
members shown in stowed positions within roof rails and having a spring
actuator;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a schematic partially cross-sectional side view
illustration of one of the roof rails with a bow member therein taken at
lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a schematic fragmentary illustration in plan view of the
vehicle roof with the roof rack assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the bow
member of one of the roof rails partially pivoted from the stowed
position and translating in a slot within the roof rail;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a schematic partially cross-sectional side view
illustration of the roof rail and bow member of FIG. 3 taken at lines 4-4
in FIG. 3;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic fragmentary illustration in plan view of the
vehicle roof with the roof rack assembly of FIGS. 1 through 4 showing the
bow member of one of the roof rails pivoted to a deployed position and
translated along the slot;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic partially cross-sectional side view
illustration of the roof rail and bow member of FIG. 5 taken at lines 6-6
in FIG. 5;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a schematic fragmentary plan view illustration of a
vehicle roof with a second embodiment of a roof rack assembly having a
bow member shown in a stowed positions within a roof rail and having an
electronic solenoid actuator;

[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic fragmentary plan view of the vehicle roof and
roof rack assembly of FIG. 7 with the bow member partially pivoted toward
a deployed position and the actuator actuated; and

[0015] FIG. 9 is a schematic fragmentary plan view illustration of a third
embodiment of a vehicle roof with a roof rack assembly showing bow
members in phantom nested within each other in stowed positions and
partially pivoted (shown in solid) toward deployed positions also shown
in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to
like components throughout the several views. FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 10
having a roof 12 with a roof rack assembly 14 secured thereto. The front
of the vehicle roof 12, i.e., that portion that is generally forward when
the vehicle 10 is driven in a forward direction is indicated as 16, while
the rear of the vehicle roof 10 is indicated as 18.

[0017] The roof rack assembly 14 includes a first elongated roof rail 20
and a second elongated roof rail 22, both extending in a generally
fore-aft or longitudinal direction on the vehicle 10. The roof rails 20,
22 are generally parallel with one another and are spaced by a transverse
first distance 23. Although in this embodiment, the roof rails 20, 22 are
parallel with one another, non-parallel arrangements are also possible.

[0018] The roof rail 20 forms a cavity 24 in which a first bow member 26
is shown nested in a stowed position within the cavity 24. Similarly, the
roof rail 22 forms a cavity 28 in which a second bow member 30 is shown
nested in a stowed position within the cavity 28. Each of the cavities
24, 28 opens in a direction facing the opposing roof rail 20, 22. As
discussed below, each of the bow members 26, 30 is pivotable out of the
respective cavity 24, 28 to a deployed position, shown in FIG. 5, in
which the bow members 26, 30 span the first distance 23 and are a second
distance 32 apart from one another. The second distance 32 is less than
the first distance 23 due to translation of the first bow member 26
during deployment from the stowed position to the deployed position as
discussed below.

[0019] Referring again to FIG. 1, the first roof rail 20 has a first slot
34 extending partially along a length 36 of the first roof rail 20. The
first slot 34 may extend completely through the upper wall 37 and the
lower wall 39 of the first roof rail 20, as shown in FIG. 2, or may be an
upper channel formed in the upper wall 37 at the cavity 24 and a lower
channel formed in the lower wall 39 at the cavity 24, but not extending
all the way through the walls 37, 39. A first pivot member 38, which may
be a simple pin, is positioned in the slot 34 and extends through an
opening in the first bow member 26 so that the first bow member 26 is
pivotally connected to the first roof rail 20 by the first pivot member
38 at the slot 34.

[0020] A first linkage member 40 is pivotally secured at a first portion
42 to the first bow member 26 by a second pivot member 44 extending
through an opening in the first linkage member 40 and into the first roof
rail 20. A third pivot member 46 extends through an opening in a second
portion 48 of the first linkage member 40 to pivotally secure the first
linkage member 40 to the first roof rail 20. As best shown in FIG. 2, the
second pivot member 44 extends downward from the first linkage member 40
into the first bow member 26 while the third pivot member 46 extends
upward from the first linkage member 40 into the first roof rail 20.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, an actuator 50 is positioned in the cavity 24
between one end of the first bow member 26 and the first roof rail 20. In
this embodiment, the actuator 50 is a coil spring that is compressed when
the first bow member 26 is in the stowed position of FIG. 1. When an end
portion 49 of the first bow member 26 is pulled out of the cavity 24
toward the second roof rail 22, the actuator 50 urges the first pivot pin
38 along the slot 34 toward the third pivot member 46, as shown by the
intermediate position of the first bow member 26 in FIG. 3. Pivoting the
first bow member 26 also causes the first linkage member 40 to pull the
first pivot member 38 toward the second pivot member 44. The actuator may
instead be positioned near the end portion 49 of the first bow member 26,
in the cavity 24 between the outer wall 51 of the first roof rail 20 and
the first bow member 26. In either case, an optional depressible pin 53
may selectively be received in an opening 55 of the first bow member 26
to lock the first bow member 26 to the first roof rail 20 in the stowed
position, and depressed to release the first bow member 26 for pivoting
to the deployed position of FIG. 5. An opening through the first roof
rail 20 allows access to depress the pin 53. Locking the first bow member
26 via the pin 53 keeps the actuator 50 in the compressed position of
FIG. 1.

[0022] An electrically-powered solenoid-type actuator 150, shown in FIGS.
7 and 8, may be used in an alternative embodiment of a roof rail assembly
114. A power source 152 connected with an electronic controller (not
shown) is controlled by the controller to selectively activate the
actuator 150 to cause an armature 154 of the actuator 150 to extend,
pushing the first bow member 26.

[0023] Referring again to FIG. 1, the second bow member 30 has a fourth
pivot member 60 that pivotally connects the second bow member 30 to the
second roof rail 22. The second bow member 30 is selectively locked to
the second roof rail 22 via another depressible pin 53. The second bow
member 30 may be pivoted about the fourth pivot member 60 to the deployed
position shown in FIG. 5 when the first bow member 26 is almost or
completely pivoted to the deployed position. The first and second bow
members 26, 30 may be positioned at slightly offset heights to allow them
to pivot past one another without interfering. Furthermore, the end of
the second bow member 30 fits in the cavity 24 to be locked to the second
roof rail 20 with another depressible pin 53 that is positioned to avoid
interfering with the actuator 50. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5,
the actuator 50 occupies only a portion of the width of the cavity 24
when not compressed.

[0024] Referring again to FIG. 1, the linkage member 40 is aligned
substantially parallel with the first slot 34 when the first bow member
26 is in the stowed position of FIG. 1, and substantially perpendicular
with the first slot 34 in the deployed position of FIG. 5. Because the
linkage member 40 and slot 34 are configured in this manner, with the
linkage member 40 and the first bow member 26 both pivoting ninety
degrees from the stowed position to the deployed position, the first bow
member 26 translates a distance 62 (the entire length of slot 34) which
is twice the distance 64 between the second pivot member 44 and the third
pivot member 46 via the first pivot member 38 traveling in the slot 34 as
shown in FIG. 5.

[0025] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a roof rack assembly 214 for use
on the vehicle roof 12 of FIG. 1. The first roof bow member 26 is shown
in phantom in the stowed position nested in the cavity 24, and is
connected with the linkage member 40 and with a first roof rail 20 via
pivot members 38, 44 and 46 as described above. An actuator 50 urges the
first bow member 26 toward the deployed position, shown in phantom as
226. The first bow member 26 is shown in solid in a partially deployed
position.

[0026] The first roof rail 220 is C-shaped, opening toward the second roof
rail 22. The first bow member 26 is also C-shaped, opening toward the
second roof rail 22. A second bow member 230 nests within the first bow
member 26 in the first roof rail 220 when in the stowed position. Thus,
there is no bow member stowed in the second roof rail 22. The second bow
member 230 is pivotally connected to the first roof rail 220 with a
fourth pivot member 238 at a second slot 234 in the first roof rail 220,
and is biased toward a deployed position 232 by another actuator 50. The
second bow member 230 is also pivotally connected to a second linkage
member 240 at a fifth pivot member 244 and to the first roof rail 220 at
sixth pivot member 246. The bow members 26, 230 pivot outward from the
stowed positions in opposing directions, as is evident in FIG. 9. When in
the final deployed positions 226, 232, shown in phantom spanning between
the first roof rail 220 and the second roof rail 22, the first bow member
26 and the second bow member 230 have translated toward each other (i.e.,
the first bow member 26 translates rearward and the second bow member 230
translates forward). Because both of the first and the second bow members
26, 230 are nested in the same first roof rail 20, fewer components may
be necessary for electrically-powered actuation. For example, a single
power source may be positioned near the first roof rail 20, and less
wiring is required from a common controller and power source to the
actuators 50. Depressible locking pins like locking pins 53 described
above may be used to retain the first bow member 26 and the second bow
member 230 in the respective stowed or deployed positions.

[0027] While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been
described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention
relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for
practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Patent applications by Joseph M. Polewarczyk, Rochester Hills, MI US

Patent applications by Kevin G. Kolpasky, Oakland Township, MI US

Patent applications by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.

Patent applications in class Carrier having means to adjust position or attitude

Patent applications in all subclasses Carrier having means to adjust position or attitude